LaLota Votes to Strengthen Control at the U.S. Border

WASHINGTON D.C. - Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 35, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, which enforces stricter penalties—including deportation for criminal illegals—on those who evade U.S. Border Patrol within 100 miles of the U.S. border.

"Every executive order signed and piece of legislation passed pertaining to border security underscores the determined commitment of President Trump and the Republican Congress to secure America's borders. We are drastically reducing the lethal influx of fentanyl and deterring malicious actors from compromising our national safety," said LaLota. "My support for the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, which heightens penalties for those evading our border patrol, solidifies my dedication to strengthening border security, safeguarding our frontline defenders, and ensuring the safety of our communities. Together, we are making America more secure!”

To read the full text of the bill, click HERE. 

Background:

The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act is named after Border Patrol Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr., who passed away on December 7, 2022, due to injuries sustained while on ATV patrol near McAllen, Texas. At the time of his death, Agent Gonzalez was in pursuit of illegal aliens who evaded Border Patrol near the Southwest Border. 

This legislation would specifically impose the following penalties for evading Law Enforcement within 100 miles of the border:

• Two years imprisonment and/or a fine. 
• If the offense resulted in serious injury, not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years in prison and/or a fine. 
• If the offense resulted in death, not less than 10 years in prison up to life in prison and/or a fine. 

This legislation would also make an alien inadmissible to or deportable from the United States if that person admitted to or was convicted of such an offense. 

In March 2024, Rep. LaLota co-sponsored the bipartisan Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act,  requiring the President to secure the U.S. southern border. The legislation also provided defense-only appropriations to support allies and bolster Taiwan’s defense against potential threats. 

In February 2024, LaLota urged the Biden Administration to enforce existing immigration and border security laws, emphasizing the need for immediate executive action to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

Rep. LaLota has visited the U.S.-Mexico border multiple times. By January 2024, he completed his third trip to the border, calling for decisive action from the White House and Senate to address the escalating crisis. In February 2023, he traveled to El Paso, Texas, to observe border operations and engage with law enforcement officials

In May 2023, he voted in favor of Secure the Border Act, which aims to overhaul the broken border security and immigration system. The legislation seeks to enhance the asylum process and provide law enforcement with the necessary support to maintain border integrity. 

In April 2023, Rep. LaLota co-introduced the Border Reinforcement Act of 2023 to equip U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and local law enforcement with essential tools to manage 

the escalating border crisis. The act emphasizes the need for adequate resources and support to enforce existing immigration laws effectively.